So...I've seen some posts about people planning to do the Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier...has anyone here actually done it with a hammock?
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So...I've seen some posts about people planning to do the Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier...has anyone here actually done it with a hammock?
I'm curious too!Quote:
Originally Posted by Paco
I'm in the planning stage of that trip, I'd love to find out the answer to that question as well. My plan was the lightest hammock set up and a torso length therma rest for ground. But if I can safely commit myself to using a hammock the whole trip I can get lighter and more comfortable.
Have done it but not with a hammock. I think it's doable with some stealth camping involved...and being ready to go to ground if you have to. No doubt you could hang at a lot of the designated sites, you'll just have to plan your overnight stops accordingly....and get to them early enough to get the pick of spots at the sites. Check to all the resources on the nps.gov site for MRNP...lots of good info buried in that site. This link http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisi...trailmap-2.pdf will show you the number of spots available at each site. Some of the best camps (Indian Bar and Golden Lakes) have quite a few spots but get packed quick. Recommend you move fast too. The reservations opened up on March 15th and it can get competitive if you're looking for a peak time of the season.
I'll be giving the Northern Loop Trail a try with my hammock in August. Can't wait!
Good luck!
Jayf124 - Do you need a bear canister up there?
Nope......they have bear poles at all of the camps. Only saw three bears (mother and two cubs) on the trail. Did not see any near the camps though.Quote:
Originally Posted by froggfeathers
Im planning on doing Wonderland in early Sept.
I recently talked to someone who did it this past summer and he said about half the sites would be good for hammocks, but he said it would be tough to use every night.
If you brought a mat and were prepared to go to the ground under your tarp and trekking poles you would be pretty safe.
He recommended going to the ground for the trail..(I know I know)
I have heard of backwoods permits as well but I believe you have to be something like 1/4 mile off the trail and would need the Bear Canister for sure.
Im trying to find more details on that...
Gary, thanks for the intel! Sounds like I'll opt for my Tarp Tent instead. Bummer.
I just finished the Wonderland Trail around Rainier (great trip BTW). The only campground I found that would be problematic to hang a hammock was Mowich Lake. (I hiked it using a GoLite Eden I tent which worked great but I'd rather hammock it whenever possible.)
The Mowich Lake campground is a repurposed gravel parking lot. Ugly yes, but you do get a picnic table as a consolation prize. There are trees around the perimeter of some of the campground, so maybe the rangers would let you string up a hammock slightly out of bounds. Ask them first or you may piss them off.
I would recommend camping at Eagle's Roost instead of Mowich anyway. You can pass through Mowich (an extra 0.6 mile of walking) to grab your food cache and dump whatever trash you're carrying, take a dip in the lake, and relax a bit before continuing on to Eagle's Roost (if hiking clockwise). If going counter-clockwise, you can drop all your stuff in Eagle's Roost and do the short hike to Mowich and back just carrying your pack, trash, and some water shoes (the lake bottom has some pointy rocks).
But most of all...GO DO IT!
Paco that sounds great. Do you have any pictures to share with us?